New Landmark Azabudai Hills Opens in November: Public Art by Yoshitomo Nara, Olafur Eliasson, and More

The multi-use complex Azabudai Hills opens near Tokyo Tower

A multi-use complex and a new world-class neighborhood, Azabudai Hills, will open doors on November 24. Created by Japan’s leading urban landscape developer, Mori Building Co., Ltd., Azabudai Hills is a successor of Ark Hills, Roppongi Hills, Omotesando Hills, and Toranomon Hills.

Embodying the concept of a “Modern Urban Village,” Azabudai Hills is a nature-rich landmark with a world-class business center, stylish retail and residential facilities, and a vast open space filled with lush greenery. Covering an area of approximately 8.1 hectares, Azabudai Hills features a space that accommodates a variety of urban functions, including offices, residences, retail, cultural, educational, and medical facilities.

A key feature distinguishing Azabudai Hills from other sites is the abundance of greenery. By taking advantage of the topographical differences of the area, the site accommodates 24,000m² of green space. The dynamic architecture of the lower levels, designed by Heatherwick Studio, complements the greenery, creating a rich environment where the entire city is surrounded by luscious greenery.

City of art: Azabudai Hills Gallery, Shueisha Manga Art Heritage, and more

Mori Building is known for its focus on culture in urban development, as represented by the Mori Art Museum in Roppongi Hills. At Azabudai Hills, the company’s approach is based on the concept of “making the entire city a museum.” At the center of the overall facility is a museum and art gallery with an area of approximately 9300㎡.

The new Azabudai Hills Gallery will serve as the core of the cultural promotion. Azabudai Hills Gallery is equipped with museum facilities and equipment and will display various genres, including art, fashion, and entertainment. The opening will be celebrated with an exhibition, A Harmonious Cycle of Interconnected Nows, by Olafur Eliasson. As part of the Azabudai Hills Gallery, the Café and Space will offer visitors a place to relax before or after viewing works of art.

A joint project between Mori Building and teamLab that originally opened in Odaiba and attracted 2.3 million visitors from more than 160 countries in its first year, will relocate to Azabudai Hills. The digital art museum will showcase teamLab's evolving collection of artworks, including several making their Japanese debut.

Other diverse tenants, each with a distinctive character, will also work together to share the rich culture of the Azabudai Hills. Publisher Shueisha will open the first real storefront of “Shueisha Manga Art Heritage,” which was previously available only on Shueisha’s website. In addition, the Chain Museum, which runs an online space for artists and fans to interact, will open a combined gallery and restaurant called “Gallery Restaurant Butaiura” (butaiura = “behind the scenes”).

Public art by Yoshitomo Nara, Olafur Eliasson, and others

The Central Green will bring people together in a lush green space for rest. On the other hand, Azabudai Hills Arena, crowned by “The Cloud” canopy designed by Heatherwick Studio, will be equipped to host various events. The visitors will be able to see various public art that eliminate the boundary between art and daily life. Here, visitors can experience public art that blurs the line between art and everyday life.

On display in this area are Miss Forest (2023) by Yoshitomo Nara, Artificial Rock No. 109 (2015) by Zhan Wang, and Wood Log (log version) (2017/2023) by Yutaka Sone. In addition, Mori JP Tower, the skyscraper at the heart of the Azabudai Hills, will feature Olafur Eliasson’s A harmonious cycle of interconnected nows (2023).